Professor Xing was low-key when he was in the Unity Brigade, but now he was a very decisive and efficient person. He said directly, "You don't need to refuse or be polite! Although we've gotten a bit older over the years, our eyesight is still good! Some people help us because they want to profit from our situation, while others help us only after agreeing to exchange conditions!"
"The help you've given us may seem insignificant, but it's what kept us alive and helped us get through the toughest times! If you don't want us old folks to be seen as ungrateful and taking advantage of others, then accept it! What's yours is yours!"
"Back when we were in the Unity Brigade, you seemed like a straightforward person. Why have you become so hesitant since we came to the capital?"
"We'll talk about this later. Just know our feelings! I'm keeping you here for another reason."
Xu Ningyan immediately had a bad feeling: "What is it?"
"When I returned to teach at Peking University, all the students I had taken on back then were either dead, scattered, or even severed ties with me to protect themselves. Some even stabbed me in the back to climb the social ladder! Now that I'm back, I plan to take on a last disciple—"
Professor Xing looked at Xu Ningyan meaningfully.
Xu Ningyan felt a chill run down her spine and wanted to run away: "Um, Professor Xing, I have class, should I go first?"
"Why are you running away? After all these years of ups and downs, this old man is scared! As the saying goes, you can't see into someone's heart! Human nature is the most unpredictable thing! In my old age, I just want to find a disciple with impeccable character and trustworthiness, and that's who I've chosen—"
Xu Ningyan really wanted to say, "Please don't take a liking to me! I don't even like myself! Please have mercy."
"Um, Professor Xing, shouldn't we be a little more cautious about your last disciple? I... I don't think I believe it—" Xu Ningyan tried her best to decline.
"I'm your mentor, and if I think you're capable, then you're capable!" Professor Xing exuded an air of dominance.
"I'm just letting you know. From now on, come to my office after class every day. I'm going to pick up a research topic again recently, so you can just follow me." Professor Xing made the final decision.
"I—" Xu Ningyan was almost in tears!
Family members, does anyone understand this?! A master suddenly appears out of nowhere, the kind who forces you to buy or sell something?
"It's settled then! I'll make some preparations in a few days. It's a new society now, so let's not be so formal! I'll ask a few old friends to be witnesses, and you can just offer me a cup of tea as a teacher!" Professor Xing had already arranged everything.
Then he waved at Xu Ningyan: "Alright, I've said everything. Don't you have class? Hurry up and go! Aren't you afraid of being late?"
Xu Ningyan gave Professor Xing a resentful look, then silently turned and left.
After returning home, she hugged Jiang Zhiyuan and whimpered, complaining about Professor Xing's domineering behavior.
Jiang Zhiyuan felt both heartache and pride for his wife. Indeed, his wife was the best!
He knew Professor Xing's reputation well.
In the realm of history, he is a very famous figure.
He actually offered to take his wife as his last disciple. Putting everything else aside, with such a master guiding her, his wife will surely have a place in the history field in the future.
Even if Xu Ningyan was feeling frustrated, it was already decided that such a textbook-level big shot would take her as his last disciple.
If she were to be coy and say no again, she would be ungrateful.
After being comforted by her husband, Xu Ningyan's reluctance vanished.
They respectfully prepared the apprenticeship ceremony on the day Professor Xing had chosen.
With Jiang Zhiyuan and the two children, they went to Professor Xing's house. In front of his old friends and acquaintances, they respectfully kowtowed to Professor Xing and offered him a cup of tea.
Professor Xing has now been exonerated and returned to campus, but everything has changed.
His wife, unable to bear the torment any longer, passed away several years ago.
Their child died when he was a teenager, and the couple never had any more children. They had originally planned to take on a few disciples, since they would be no different from their own children.
Unexpectedly, a catastrophe revealed the true nature of human nature.
Having endured many hardships, he returned alone.
His close friends and acquaintances understood that by accepting Xu Ningyan as his last disciple, Professor Xing was truly entrusting everything to Xu Ningyan from now on.
Before Xu Ningyan's apprenticeship ceremony, Jiang Zhiyuan had already given her a detailed analysis.
Being this last disciple is no easy task; Professor Xing will not only be a teacher but also a father figure to him.
She will inherit everything Professor Xing has in the future, and naturally, she will also bear the responsibilities.
Xu Ningyan then realized the importance of this closed-door disciple.
Since Professor Xing trusts her so much, entrusting her with his reputation, status, and even his affairs after his death!
Why can't she let Professor Xing and those who don't think highly of her see that Professor Xing's last disciple is no pushover?
Therefore, Xu Ningyan was very sincere when she knelt down and kowtowed during the apprenticeship ceremony.
Professor Xing was extremely satisfied!
He wasn't unaware of Xu Ningyan's reluctance before, but he simply didn't have the energy or the desire to sift through the vast sea of people to find a suitable disciple.
He just liked Xu Ningyan!
With his abilities, even if Xu Ningyan were a piece of trash, he could still sculpt that trash into a work of art.
Moreover, Xu Ningyan is not a good-for-nothing; he was admitted to Peking University as the second-highest scorer in the capital.
He wouldn't preemptively grab such a talented and well-behaved child and take him for himself.
What if one of those older guys, whose eyesight is still sharp, takes a liking to it?
Seeing that Xu Ningyan's apprenticeship ceremony was prepared according to ancient rites, and that the kowtowing and tea offerings were all done with utmost respect, he was naturally overjoyed.
Looking at Xu Ningyan's husband, Jiang Zhiyuan, he was calm and composed, with the air of a great general. Even in front of these old men, he was in no way inferior, which showed that he was no ordinary person.
Then look at Xu Ningyan's twin sons, and you'll adore them even more.
Not only Professor Xing liked it, but his old friends who came to witness the ceremony also loved it.
Several even suggested that if the child were older, they could send them over so the parents could teach them for a couple of days to build a foundation.
This was a wonderful opportunity, and Xu Ningyan readily agreed on the spot.
He also got a bunch of old professors to be his two sons' mentors for free, making a fortune!
These are all the benefits of becoming an apprentice!
Xu Ningyan made up her mind that even if Professor Xing, her mentor, assigned her more learning tasks in the future, she would not complain.
But she was quickly proven wrong.
When others have a holiday, they go home to rest.
Xu Ningyan was only happy for three minutes after her summer vacation started when Professor Xing told her to come to his office at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day to help him look up information.
Xu Ningyan: What if you suddenly regret it?
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